B
obNewhartwill
turn90 on Sept.5,
and he plans to
celebrate in typically
understated fashion.
“I got some offers to
appear in Chicago, which is where
I’m originally from,” Bob tells
Closer exclusively. “Then I thought
to myself, ‘No, I want to be with
my family on my 90th birthday.’
So we’re all getting together, and
that’s the way it should be.” Wed
to wife Ginny since 1963, Bob is
the proud papa of four kids and
grandfather of 10. He spoke with
Closer about the secret to his
longtime marriage, the greatest
honor he ever received, why he’ll
never retire and more.
Congrats on turning 90!
How are you feeling these days?
When I think of all the things that I
never thought would happen to me,
they could fill a book. Having a num-
ber-one record, two TV series, all
the people I’ve met and making 90.
I wouldn’t have expected it. My dad
died at 85, and my mother died at 94,
so I guess I wound up with her genes.
Lookingback,is therea great
li fe lessonyoucansharewithus?
It’s probably trite, but it’s also true:
When all is said and done, and all the
accolades and honors you receive,
it’s all about friends and family.
You’ve lost some close friends,
like Don Rickles, Mike Connors
and Tim Conway in recent years.
How did their deaths affect you?
That’s what made me feel the way
I do about spending time with my
family and what friends I have left.
It just puts things in perspective.
One of your sisters, Mary Joan,
passed away last year as well.
She was a nun, and she was hoping
she’d make 90. She just missed it by
a couple of days, so I’m making it
to 90 for her. When she had a blood
disease, I said to her, “If you don’t
make it, none of us have a chance.”
What was it like when you made
the transition from being an
accountant to a stand-up comic?
It’s a tough business when you’re
coming into it, because nobody
knows who you are, and you just
ASTHEBELOVED
COMEDIANMARKS
A MILESTONE,HE
LOOKSBACKOVERHIS
BUTTON-DOWNLIFE
It’s All About
BOB NEWHART AT 90
FRIENDS &
FAMILY
have to walk out there with all
the bravado you can muster. If an
audience gets the feeling you’re not
sure of yourself, you’re dead meat.
How did you master comedy?
You’ve got to learn your craft. It
means a lot of nights of people just
staring at you and not laughing.
That’s the business, but it’s worth it.
Is it terrifying to be up onstage
all by yourself?
I was playing golf one time with
Andy Williams in Vegas on a Sunday.
I was playing the Desert Inn, and he
was at Caesars Palace. I said, “I hate
Sunday nights. Everybody’s out of
town, and it’s hard to get anything
going. Andy, do you feel the same
way?” And he said, “Well, I’ve got a
32-piece big band behind me.” And I
thought to myself, “Yeah, I don’t have
that.” But when you survive that, the
gratification is so worth it.
Do you have any regrets?
If I could’ve afforded it, I would’ve
gotten married earlier. W hen my
first record came out and hit number
one, I didn’t really have anyone to
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